Since 2010 this bylaw, which is enforced by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has been a key tool for improving Rotorua air quality. Developing and implementing the Bylaw has been a collaborative process between Rotorua Lakes Council and the regional council.

The proposed revised bylaw contains a number of changes, many of which are minor and are included for additional clarity, and to ensure consistency with the regional rules. However, some changes will affect what types of burners can be installed in houses within the Rotorua airshed. A brief overview of theContinue reading

Since 2010 this bylaw, which is enforced by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has been a key tool for improving Rotorua air quality. Developing and implementing the Bylaw has been a collaborative process between Rotorua Lakes Council and the regional council.

The proposed revised bylaw contains a number of changes, many of which are minor and are included for additional clarity, and to ensure consistency with the regional rules. However, some changes will affect what types of burners can be installed in houses within the Rotorua airshed. A brief overview of the changes follows.

The interpretation section contains a number of definitions of terms that are used in the bylaw, the biggest being the inclusion of definitions for each different type of solid fuel burner (coal burner, indoor open fire, multifuel burner, pellet burner, woodburner).

The Point of Sale rule previously required any non-complying solid fuel burner to be removed or replaced in a house before it was sold. There are two key changes to this:

Indoor open fires must now be rendered inoperable and may no longer be replaced with another type of solid fuel burner.

The rule now applies to all buildings in the Rotorua airshed.

A new clause has been added that requires written/photographic evidence of the removal or replacement to be provided to either Rotorua Lakes Council or the Bay of Plenty Regional council.

The “Restriction on Installation of Solid Fuel Burners in New and Existing Houses” rule, known as the New Burner rule, has changed. Previously the rule permitted the installation of solid fuel burners provided they complied with the design standard and thermal efficiency standard of the NESAQ. There are three substantial changes to this rule:

Installation of new burners where there is currently no solid fuel burner installed is limited to pellet burners.

Woodburners may be permitted provided that they replace a woodburner, coal burner, or multifuel burner.

Once again, this rule now applies to all buildings, not just dwelling houses.

When considering the proposed revised bylaw for the special consultative procedure, Council requested a social and economic impact report be provided. This report will be available for Council when final deliberations on the revised bylaw are undertaken in August.

Full details of the draft bylaw including Statement of Proposal, the proposed bylaw and submission form are available on this website, from Rotorua Library, Council’s Customer Service Centre at 1061 Haupapa Street, or by phoning Council on 348 4199 during normal office hours. Council is seeking feedback on this proposal. Submissions may be made online or in any written format.

Anyone who makes a submission and who wishes to be heard in support of that submission will have an opportunity to appear before Council to speak to their submission on 13 July 2017.